While the Northwestern State soccer team performed well on the field, the team acquitted itself as well, if not better, in the classroom.
Four Lady Demons earned a spot on the Academic All-Southland Conference teams, led by first teamers Emme’ Fernandez and Taylor Spitzer.
The duo is joined by second teamers Jessica Spitzer and Emily Mougia.
The four selections are tied for the third most (with Houston Christian) in the conference, only trailing McNeese (6) and Lamar (5).
It is the first Academic All-SLC selection for all four student-athletes.
“I am very pleased to see those four get recognized for being great examples of what it means to be a student-athlete,” head coach Ian Brophy said. “They are all leaders who excel both in the classroom and on the field and fully deserve this recognition. I am very proud of their focus and determination.”
The honor is the third of the season for Taylor Spitzer, also earning Second Team All-SLC and honorable mention All-Louisiana.
Spitzer led the team in goals (4), points (9), shots (57) and shots on goal (21).
Two of her four goals were game-winners, each in 1-0 victories against Alabama A&M and UIW.
The sophomore from Allen, Texas, was named SLC Offensive Player of the Week following a weekend in which she tallied goals against UIW and Texas A&M-Commerce.
She excelled off the field as well, sporting a 3.7 GPA in communication.
Joining her on the first team is Emme’ Fernandez. Like Spitzer, she started all 19 games for NSU, leading the Lady Demons to a trip to the semifinals in the SLC Tournament with a goal in the 69th minute in the first round against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi before clinching the match with a goal in penalty kicks.
Fernandez, a graduate student from Van Alstyne, Texas, finished second to Spitzer in both goals (3) and points (7).
She earned a perfect 4.0, graduating this month with a master’s degree in homeland security.
Taylor Spitzer was not the only member of the Spitzer family to make the team, as twin Jessica Spitzer made the second team.
While Taylor is the goal scorer, Jessica is the defensive stalwart. She played every single minute of every game, the first player in program history to do that in at least a decade.
She was part of a defense that posted five shutouts. That defense held opponents to seven or fewer shots on six occasions, including just three in the shutout win over Alabama A&M.
Jessica Spitzer recorded two assists during the year, including one on Sabrina Lopez’s game-tying goal in the SLC semifinals against Lamar.
As good as the sophomore was on the field, she was even better in the classroom, as she has a perfect 4.0 GPA, majoring in biology.
Rounding out the quartet is Mougia, one of the team captains, along with Fernandez.
A midfielder, Mougia had an impact both offensively and defensively, for NSU. She tallied one assist this season, which came on the road against LSU. She logged at least 80 minutes on six occasions, including all 110 in the Southland Conference Tournament against Lamar.
Mougia, a junior from Sachse, Texas, sported a 3.87 GPA in health and exercise science to earn a spot on the team.
Lamar’s Arely Alaniz was named the SLC Student Athlete of the Year.
Women’s Soccer All-Academic Team
Student-Athlete of the Year – Arely Alaniz, Lamar
First Team
GK – Nicole Panis, Lamar**
DF – Arely Alaniz, Lamar**
DF – Kaisa Juvonen, Lamar**
DF – Kat Lazor, HCU**
DF – Nya Mitchell, Texas A&M-Commerce**
MF – Kaile Kukaua, McNeese**
MF – Hollie Massey, Lamar**
MF – Mya Guillory, Southeastern
MF – Alexa Huerta, HCU
FWD – Magalie Depot, McNeese
FWD – Emme’ Fernandez, Northwestern State
FWD – Megan Guy, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
FWD – Taylor Spitzer, Northwestern State
Second Team
GK – Jackie Kelly, McNeese
DF – Jessica Spitzer, Northwestern State
DF – Hailey Griffin, Texas A&M-Commerce
DF – Mia Salas, HCU
DF – Martine Ellefsen, McNeese
DF – Morgan Schooley, McNeese
DF – Ellie Mai Sanford, UIW
MF – Mai-Lisa Atis, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
MF – Trinity Clark, Lamar
MF – Melissa Storey, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
MF – Emily Mougia, Northwestern State
MF – Kiana Kukaua, McNeese
MF – Katie Marker, HCU
